BALTIMORE -- Last Monday, Bryce Harper pointed to the back of his locker at loanDepot park in Miami. There sat his outfielder’s glove. “Just in case they make a trade,” Harper said.

Don Mattingly heard about it, of course. But asked Sunday morning at Camden Yards about his reaction to the news that Tarik Skubal had been traded to the Dodgers, Mattingly did not miss a beat. “What happened?” he said, straight-faced. His response got a few laughs.

BALTIMORE -- The only thing that matters for the Phillies now is what president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski does before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. The Phils beat the Orioles on Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards, 8-0, in a six-inning shortened game that featured two rain delays. But

BALTIMORE -- Cristopher Sánchez finished the sixth inning on Saturday night with the bases loaded and a one-run lead. He walked off the mound with his head high, but before he reached the visitors’ dugout at Camden Yards, he snapped his head toward the Orioles’ dugout and shouted. Sánchez is

BALTIMORE -- A few hours before the Phillies’ bullpen threw three scoreless innings in Saturday night’s 5-0 victory over the Orioles, seven relievers and bullpen coach Cesár Ramos formed a semi-circle in left field in front of Phillies left-hander José Alvarado. Alvarado wanted to talk.

BALTIMORE -- Zack Wheeler threw his scheduled bullpen session on Friday afternoon at Camden Yards. By all accounts, he is ready to start on Sunday afternoon against the Orioles.

BALTIMORE – Andrew Painter doesn’t know what will happen next. But he hopes to be part of this.

This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

PHILADELPHIA -- Don Mattingly made the same point four times in 90 seconds, so he must have meant it. “Now’s the time that we're going to find out what we're made of,” the Phillies' interim manager said following Wednesday’s 8-6 loss to the Marlins at loanDepot park. “There’s a struggle.

MIAMI -- Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly spent 14 seasons with the Yankees, and he experienced just about everything there as a player. So, before a teammate might have said the Yankees need help before the Trade Deadline, like Bryce Harper said about the Phillies on Tuesday night at loanDepot

MIAMI -- Tucked into the back of Bryce Harper's locker at loanDepot park is an outfielder’s glove. The Phillies’ first baseman brought it, just in case he needs it.

MIAMI -- Don Mattingly is trying to squeeze anything he can from an outfield that has been one of the franchise’s least productive in 143 years. But he can only do so much.

PHILADELPHIA -- Zack Wheeler said he’s OK. He just had a bad day.

PHILADELPHIA -- Seven games won’t change the Phillies’ desires before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline, but they are 2-5 since the All-Star break following Friday night’s 1-0 loss to the Yankees at Citizens Bank Park.

PHILADELPHIA -- Tyler Spangler said all the right things on Friday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. He said he is thrilled to sign with the Phillies. He said he has enjoyed Philly. He said he has had a few cheesesteaks, including one from Angelo’s. But, most importantly, he said he

PHILADELPHIA -- Nobody in Philly can relate more to LeBron James’ signing with the 76ers than Phillies superstar Bryce Harper. When news broke on Feb. 28, 2019, that Harper and the Phillies had agreed to a 13-year, $330 million contract, the excitement was immediate and real. The Phillies sold 100,000

This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies placed backup catcher Garrett Stubbs on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with left wrist inflammation.

PHILADELPHIA -- Bryan De La Cruz didn’t miss Eric Lauer’s 91 mph fastball at the top of the zone. He crushed a game-tying solo home run to center field in the fourth inning of Wednesday night’s 9-5 loss to the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. It was De La Cruz’s

PHILADELPHIA -- Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy had flashbacks on Tuesday night. He wasn’t the only one. The Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park ended on a wild play that felt like other late-inning finishes between these two teams. Los Angeles won Game 2 of the

PHILADELPHIA – Phillies ace Zack Wheeler is pitching with an edge, and it’s working. He might as well keep going with it.

PHILADELPHIA -- How many people can truly relate to the night Trea Turner had on Monday? Perhaps only a few.

PHILADELPHIA – Cristopher Sánchez began Monday night with two sinkers and a slider to Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani swung and missed at both sinkers down and in. He whiffed badly at a slider away for strike three.

PHILADELPHIA -- Right-hander Alex McFarlane, the Phillies' No. 17-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, was called up from Double-A Reading on Monday. To make room on the roster, righty Alan Rangel, who tossed four innings in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Mets, was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. McFarlane is 1-1

This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.